Foldable table



April 19, 1966 L, LO S 3,246,614

FOLDABLE TABLE Filed April 15, 1964 INVENTOR. [VAN 1S. lozs'c'y WZ W United States Patent 3,246.614 FGLDABLE TABLE Evan L. Locsch, Huron, S. Dale, assignor to Spacer Furnishings Corporation, Huron, E. Dak, a corporation of South Dakota Filed Apr. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 359,838 Claims. ((31. 108-63) This invention is directed to a foldable table and more particularly to a foldable table having a retractable and concealable support leg.

Present day home furnishings generally emphasize utilitarian and space saving aspects to be compatible with modern dwellings, such as apartments and small homes, where a definite limitation is placed on fioor space. Thus, foldable and expansible tables have found increasing usage in the modern home as a multiple purpose table which can be utilized for a variety of functions. The present day foldable and expansible tables each have their undesirable features. In the case of foldable tables, multipurpose utility is hampered by the various leg configurations, the stability of the table and the ease in which it may be expanded or folded to enlarged form. The normal expansible table generallv requires the addition of detached leaves for expansion purposes which leaves must be stored apart from the table. This limits the application of such tables in areas where storage space is as limited as floor space.

The present invention is directed to an improved foldable table having an concealed support leg which permits usage of the table in its folded condition with a maximum of space beneath the table for leg room or the like. Further, the improved foldable table has a stable three legged support which may be readily and easily expanded to a four legged table with a maximum of stability and ease of expansion. The retracted support leg, as well as the folded table top, does not detract from the appearance of the table and thereby provides a functional multi-purpose table which may be readily used in the folded and expanded positions. Further, the improved retractable Support is simple on design and economical to manufacture.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved foldable table.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved foldable table with a collapsible leg concealed to provide a maximum of fioor room under the table.

A further object of this invention is to provide in an improved foldable table, a simplified pivot and folding structure for the expansible table leg.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached description together with the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the improved foldable table in the expanded form.

FEGURE 2 is a perspective view of the improved foldable table in the folded form.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the improved foldable table showing the leg support structure.

FIGURE 4 is a schematic view of the movable leg and its support for the improved foldable table showing movement of the same in phantom,

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the table in FIGURE 3 taken along the lines 55 therein; and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of a portion of the table in FIGURE 3 taken along the lines 66 therein.

The improved foldable table is shown in perspective in FIGURE 1 as including a fixed leaf 1t and a foldable leaf 12. The fixed leaf it) is supported by a fixed support structure indicated generally at 15 as comprising a cross brace 20 with legs 22, 24 depending therefrom and a 3,246,614 Patented Apr. 19, 1956 longitudinal brace 26 with a third leg 28 depending therefrom. This fixed support structure 15 is rigidly attached to the fixed leaf 10, as Will be later noted. The movable support structure, indicated generally at 30, includes a movable leg brace 32 with a movable and concealable leg 34 depending therefrom.

In the perspective view of FIGURE 2, the movable leaf 12 has been folded over the fixed leaf 1t and these leaves are connected by a hinge type member 35 which may be a hinge or a plurality of hinges extending along the edge of each of the leaves. In the folded form, the fixed support structure 15 supports the table on three legs integral with the fixed support structure 15 and connected to the longitudinal brace 26 and fixed across brace 20. It will be understood that the undersurface of the movable leaf 12 has the same finish as the exposed surface of the fixed leaf 10 and the upper surface of the foldable leaf 12 so that in the folded position, the exposed surface of the table top as defined by the undersurface of the leaf 12 will be the same as the surface of the table leaves in the expanded form. FIGURE 3 shows a bottom plan view of the table to identify the fixed support structure 15 and the movable support structure 30 with respect to the table leaves 10, 12. Thus, in the FIGURE 3, the cross brace 20 is secured to the undersurface of the fixed leaf 10 through suitable means such as screws 37 and the depending legs therefrom 24, 22 at the extremities of the cross brace have suitable U shaped support members 38 connected to the undersurface of the leaf and along the extent of the fixed legs 22, 24. The supporting members 38 are connected to the table surface and the legs by suitable means, such as screws 39, and similarly the connection between the closed extremity of the supporting members 38 and the legs 22, 24 may be by suitable means, such as screws. The longitudinal brace 26 with the leg 28 depending therefrom is similarly secured to the undersurface of the table leaf 10 through suitable means such as screws 37. Leg 28 is supported by a U shaped bracket or support member 38 secured at the open extremities to the table leaf 10 through suitable means, such as screws 39, and is connected to the extent of the leg 28 through a similar connection. The longitudinal brace 26 is further secured to the table leaf through a bracket member 40 which extends across the extent of the brace 26 and is secured to the table leaf through suitable means, such as screws 42. Thus the fixed support structure 15 in the foldable table provides for a rigid support structure having three legs depending from a longitudinal and cross braces 26, 20 which are secured to the fixed table leaf 10.

The movable support 30 which is comprised basically of the movable leg brace 32 with the pivotal leg 34 thereon is pivotally connected to the cross brace, as will be best seen schematically in FIGURE 4. The movable leg brace 32 has a flanged surface behind which the leg 34 may be folded for concealment. Leg 34 is pivoted on the leg brace 32 through a suitable pivot pin and has a foldable pivot link or brace which includes parts 47, 48 pivotally connected respectively to the cross brace and leg as at 50 and 51. This support structure will best be seen in FIGURE 5. Leg brace 32 is pivotally connected at one extremity to the cross brace by means of a pivoted lever 53 which is connected to the cross brace by a pivot 55 slightly removed from one extremity of the cross brace and at one corner of the movable leg brace, as at 57, to provide for pivotal support of the movable leg brace 32 on the cross brace 20. Further, the movable leg brace 32 is connected by a second pivoted lever or link which is pivoted at one extremity through a pivot 63 on the cross brace and at the other extremity to the leg brace 32 inter-mediate its extent through a pivot 62. The two levers 53 and 6t) pivotally support the movable leg brace 32 on the cross brace 20 such that the movable leg brace .32 may be moved from a position parallel to and adjacent the cross brace 20 attached to the fixed leaf It) to a second or extended position in which the movable leg brace 32 is normal to the extent of the cross brace 20 midway along its extent and aligned with the longitudinal brace 26 to align the leg 34 thereon with the fixed leg 28 of the table. The pivoted levers 53 and 60 are positioned on the extent of the cross brace such that the lever 53 will move in an arc to pivot one end of the movable leg brace 32 between the midposition of the cross brace and one end of the cross brace for concealment of the leg brace 32. The second supporting brace 60 is connected to the cross brace 20 and leg brace 32 such that it will move in an arcuate path to support the movable leg brace 32 with resmct to the cross brace in the normal or extended position and at the same time permit collapsing or retracting of the movable leg brace 32 to the concealed position where the movable leg brace is disposed parallel to and adjacent the fixed leg brace 20 and between projecting flanges 65 thereon. In the collapsed position, the movable leg brace 32 with the leg 34 retracted into the leg brace 32 will be concealed by alignment with the projecting flanges 65 on the cross brace 20. In this position, the collapsed movable leg brace 39 appears as the continuation of the fixed cross brace 20 and is adjacent the edge of the fixed table leaf 10. In the normal positioning of the table, the folded table is positioned against the wall with the folded edge and the pair of legs 22, 24 adjacent the wall. In expansion of the table, as shown schematically in FIG- URE 4, the movable leg brace 32 will be withdrawn from the retracted position adjacent the fixed leg brace 20, and the movable leg brace will be pivotally supported and moved in an arcuate manner on the connecting levers 53 and 60 in such a manner that the lever 53 is positioned parallel the leg brace 20 in the erected position. In this position, the leg brace 32 may be rigidly positioned in the erected position with respect to the longitudinal brace 26 by means of a latch member 70 attached to the longitudinal brace 26 which is flexible and acts as a spring latch by fittting over and retaining the lever 53 attached to the movable leg brace 32. In the collapsed position of the movable leg brace 32, the latch member 70 will fit over and hold the lever 60 attached to the movable leg brace, in the same manner as lever 53 is held, as shown in FIGURE 6, to retain leg brace 32 in an adjacent and parallel relationship to a cross brace 20. Assembly or disassembly of a table, that is, retraction or expansion of a foldable leg and movement of the foldable leaf from a folded to expanded position will be first effected by releasing the movable leg brace 32 through operation or release of the latch 70.

It will be seen that this improved foldable table provides for a maximum of space underneath the table which is clear of leg obstructions to permit the table to be used for multiple purpose functions in either the folded or unfolded position. The simplified support structure provides for a triangular support of the table in the folded form to provide rigidity in the support of the same. In this position, the retracted leg is collapsed into the fixed cross brace and removed from view and obstruction. This simplified support structure provides for accuracy in the positioning of the movable leg when the table is moved from a folded to an expanded position. The single additional leg support provides for rigidity of the table in the expanded position.

In considering this invention it should be remembered that the present disclosure is illustrative only and the actual table configuration may take varying forms. Therefore, I wish to be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A foldable table comprising, a fixed lower leaf and an upper leaf pivotally connected to one edge of said lower leaf and adapted to be folded over said lower leaf in one position and pivoted to a second position where it is aligned with and adjacent to said lower leaf, a fixed T-shaped leg brace having a plurality of depending legs depending from the extremities of the brace, said fixed leg brace being connected to and mounting said fixed lower leaf, a movable leg brace, a first pivoted lever pivotally connected to a fixed point at the top edge of said fixed leg brace and to one end of said movable leg brace, a second pivoted lever pivotally connected to a second fixed point at the top of said fixed leg brace spaced from the first named fixed point and to the movable leg brace intermediate its extent, said movable leg brace being movable from a position parallel and adjacent to the top of said fixed leg brace on said pivoted levers to a position normal to said top portion of said fixed leg brace at a point intermediate the extent of said top portion of said fixed leg brace and aligned with one of its depending legs, and leg means positioned on the movable leg brace and pivoted near the other end of said movable leg brace to a position normal to said movable leg brace to support said upper leaf in said pivoted position.

2. The foldable table of claim 1 in which the movable leg brace folds into a recessed portion of the fixed leg brace.

3. The foldable table of claim 2 and including latch means connected to said fixed leg brace and adapted to latch said movable leg brace in said normal position.

4. The expansible table of claim 1 and including flexible latch means connected to said fixed leg brace and fitting over the first pivoted lever in the parallel position of said movable leg brace and the second pivoted lever in the normal position of said movable leg brace to retain the movable leg brace fixed in said parallel and normal positions.

5. A11 expansible table having a fixed leaf and a movable leaf adapted to be moved from a relative overlying relationship to a relative adjacent relationship and including a supporting structure comprising, a fixed lcg brace, a plurality of depending legs for supporting the fixed leaf at least two of which are connected to and are mounted on extremities of said fixed leg brace, a movable leg brace for supporting said movable leaf, lever means pivotally connected at two spaced points on said fixed leg brace, said lever means also being pivotally connected at two points on said movable leg brace for mounting said movable leg brace on said fixed leg brace for movement in a plane normal to the extent of the depending legs on said fixed leg brace, said movable leg brace being movable relative to said fixed leg brace from a position parallel to said fixed leg brace to a position normal to the extent of said fixed leg brace at a point along the extent of said fixed leg brace, said point along the extent of said fixed leg brace where the movable leg brace is normal thereto being equidistantly spaced from the extremities of the fixed leg brace and the depending legs thereon, and leg means positioned on said movable leg brace and pivoted at one extremity thereof to depend from said movable leg brace being concealed by a portion of said movable leg brace in the unpivoted position, said movable leg brace in the normal position with the depending leg means thereon being aligned with one of said plurality of depending legs supporting the fixed leaf.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 724,125 3/1903 Prindle 10863 1,510,171 9/1924 Heard 10s -131 3,036 9/1925 Foss 108ll2 1,907,242 5/1933 Chester 108-129 2,666,683 1/1954 Pucci 108-131 2,723,172 11/1955 Constantacopoulos 10863 FRANK Bv SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FOLDABLE TABLE COMPRISING, A FIXED LOWER LEAF AND AN UPPER LEAF PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO ONE EDGE OF SAID LOWER LEAF AND ADAPTED TO BE FOLDED OVER SAID LOWER LEAF IN ONE POSITION AND PIVOTED TO A SECOND POSITION WHERE IT IS ALIGNED WITH AND ADJACENT TO SAID LOWER LEAF, A FIXED T-SHAPED LEG BRACE HAVING A PLURALITY OF DEPENDING LEGS DEPENDING FROM THE EXTREMITIES OF THE BRACE, SAID FIXED LEG BRACE BEING CONNECTED TO AND MOUNTING SAID FIXED LOWER LEAF, A MOVABLE LEG BRACE, A FIRST PIVOTED LEVER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO A FIXED POINT AT THE TOP EDGE OF SAID FIXED LEG BRACE AND TO ONE END OF SAID MOVABLE LEG BRACE, A SECOND PIVOTED LEVER PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO A SECOND FIXED POINT AT THE TOP OF SAID FIXED LEG BRACE SPACED FROM THE FIRST NAMED FIXED POINT AND TO THE MOVABLE LEG BRACE INTERMEDIATE ITS EXTENT, SAID MOVABLE LEG BRACE BEING MOVABLE FROM A POSITION PARALLEL AND ADJACENT TO THE TOP OF SAID FIXED LEG BRACE ON SAID PIVOTED LEVERS TO A POSITION NORMAL TO SAID TOP PORTION OF SAID FIXED LEG BRACE AT A POINT INTERMEDIATE THE EXTENT OF SAID TOP PORTION OF SAID FIXED LEG BRACE AND ALIGNED WITH ONE OF ITS DEPENDING LEGS, AND LEG MEANS POSITIONED ON THE MOVABLE LEG BRACE AND PIVOTED NEAR THE OTHER END OF SAID MOVABLE LEG BRACE TO A POSITION NORMAL TO SAID MOVABLE LEG BRACE TO SUPPORT SAID UPPER LEAF IN SAID PIVOTED POSITION. 